15-17. Three books, each of which is set in a different century

[Rebecca]

For these I read (19th century) The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline.
(20th century) The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict.
And for the 21st century - Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler.

[Ana O. ⭐]

Set during Mythological Times (Ancient BCE): Hephaistos: God of Fire 4 Stars.
Set in the 21st Century (2000s): Verity 3.5 stars.
Set Post-21st Century (2100 and Beyond):

[Kristin]

1900s The Shadow of the Wind
-I have had this book on my TBR list for a while, an it's fitting for this prompt.
2000s All the Dangerous Things
-This is one of the books that I got for one of my Books of the Month subscription, and I was trying to find a prompt that it would fit into.
***Edit: I finished this book the other day, and I was highly impressed. If you are not subscribed to Book of the Month, I highly recommend it!
2100s Scarlet
-I had recently read Cinder, the first book to this one in the series, so I was happy to put this book as a part of this prompt. I just recently finished it, and it was great!

[Dubhease]

I respect everyone who tried to make sure their books related or were on a theme. I used this prompt to place books that I otherwise couldn't find a prompt for:

1. The History of Rome, Vol 1: The Period Anterior to the Abolition of the Monarchy (up to 5th century BC)
2. The Silver Chalice (1st)
3. Allegiant (23rd or 24th)

[LeahS]

Considering that I read a lot of history/historical fiction books, this prompt took me a surprising amount of time to sort out. In the end, I read books from three consecutive centuries (C16th, C17th and C18th), They all in fact dealt with war in some form, though that wasn't my original intention. I read:

1. The Conquest of New Spain. This was really interesting, well-edited contemporary writing about the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire, with insights into both points of view.

2.Tyll.Set in Germany during the Thirty Years War. Given that the MC is a jester, I expected it to be more amusing, but I suppose there wasn't much amusing about one of the most destructive European wars.

3. The Mysterious Balloon Man. Set in Spain and England at the time of the French Revolution, and featuring spies, this was an enjoyable and surprisingly light read.

[Denise]

NancyJ wrote: "I really like this prompt, and I'm looking forward to seeing the books and themes people pick. I think I'll save my futuristic and multi-century books for other prompts, and focus on centuries befo..."

New member here so I'm catching up on threads...but if you still need an idea, Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit is set in colonial America and its theme is the conflicts between Pilgrims and Puritans

[Denise]

Book 1 will be mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak because one of my book clubs is reading it next month! (1700's/18th century)

Book 2 will be Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler, because I read the first book and want to read the second (2030/21st century)

Book 3 will be The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, because I'm almost done with it and it just seems to fit this prompt the best


Update: I read The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim for #17, takes place in the 1920's

Update: Completed Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak for #15, takes place in the 1790's 7/6/23

[Heather L]

I wasn’t planning on a “theme read,” but that’s the way it worked out.

1595: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

1917: Summer by Edith Wharton

2016: Midsummer Night's Mischief by Jennifer David Hesse

[Anastasia]

At first I wanted to connect these three books with a feminist theme. The books I planned either fit in another slot better, or I ended up Dnf'ing them.
If I stretch it a little bit I could claim that these books are linked by isolation, hardship and grief.


The Great Escape: A Canadian Story - 1945


The Mercies - 1617


The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World - 2011

[LeahS]

Second time around, I read:

Set mainly in the thirteenth century: Daughters of Chivalry by Kelcey Wilson-Lee. I'd read A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain for PopSugar, so I was pleased to find a library book about his forgotten daughters. Interesting to find out about the education and power of these medieval women.

Set in the sixteenth century: Blood, Fire Gold: The Story of Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici. Interesting to see quite a well-known piece of history from the French perspective. A couple of historical howlers (bad editing?) which were a bit off-putting.

Set in the nineteenth century: Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge. I didn't know much (anything) about the lives of black Americans in this post Civil War period, so I learned a lot from this novel based on real people. The episodes in Haiti were interesting in themselves, but left the book a little bit disjointed. A good read though.

I then changed this for Sarah Forbes Bonetta by Victoria Princewill, to keep with a European theme. I was a bit disappointed by this book. It sounded very interesting - SFB (Aina) was probably an Yoruba princess captured in war as a child, and 'gifted' to an English sea captain, who adopted her and took her to England. She was highly intelligent and Queen Victoria took an interest in her - though this extended to who Aina should marry. This was a first person narrative which left me wanting to find out a lot more about Aina/Sarah's circumstances.

Connection: Royal sisters doing it for themselves ( or at least trying to).

[Book Concierge]

I read these three:

16th century

Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell – 5*****
Wow. You think you know where a story is headed because you know something of the historical figures depicted, and then an author completely surprises you. O’Farrell focuses the story on Agnes, the wife, mother, sister, daughter, stepdaughter and daughter-in-law. The writing is beautiful and engaging. I kept reading passages aloud. The last 20 pages or so were simply marvelous. And the last line … perfect.
LINK to my full review


19th century

Secrets of a Summer Night – Lisa Kleypas – 3***
This is the first in the “wallflower” series featuring four young women of marriageable age but who are at risk of becoming spinsters if they don’t find a suitable mate. In this first outing, the girls decide to pool their resources to ensure that Annabelle (who is the oldest and most in need of a husband) snags her man. This is a typical regency romance with plenty of heaving bosoms, devastatingly handsome men, one or two scoundrels, and a clash between the classes. The plot may be predictable, but it’s still great fun to read. A lovely escape!
LINK to my full review


20th century

West With Giraffes – Lynda Rutledge – 4****
As the world struggles to escape the Great Depression, and on the cusp of a new World War, orphan Woodrow Wilson Nickel finds himself cast adrift in the wake of the devastating Hurricane of 1938. Stumbling about hoping to find some shelter he comes across a scene that completely changes his life. Rutledge based this work of historical fiction on an actual event; in 1938 two giraffes were transported across America from the Port of New York to the San Diego Zoo. Woody is a wonderful character, and narrator, and I was completely captivated from beginning to end.
LINK to my full review

[StefanieFrei]

Jackie wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I am going to go with different variations of Sherlock Holmes.
So:
- original setting
[bookcover:Sherlock: A Study in Pink #1|30374..."

I love that approach - I am looking for something remotely similar

[StefanieFrei]

ideas:
Faye Kellerman:
- 16th century (Elizabethan time): The Quality of Mercy
- topical: any Decker/Lazarus book in the series
- and I need to remember... in one of the Decker/Lazarus, there is a historical part in the 20th century... Straight into Darkness!

Agatha Christie:
- all standard mysteries are 20th century, like Marple and Poirot
- one is ancient Egypt, 2000 B.C. Death Comes in the End
- a bit of a stretch, but any non-fiction ON Christie written in the topical century

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

To make it harder and since I've moved to a new city, I'm making them all take place in Salem:

17th Century The Witches: Salem, 1692
19th Century Hester
21st Century The Lace Reader

[NancyJ]

Pamela wrote: "To make it harder and since I've moved to a new city, I'm making them all take place in Salem:

17th Century The Witches: Salem, 1692
19th Century Hester
21st Centur..."

That’s a great way to do it! I need to update my round 2 plan soon. I set a goal to read at least 6 different centuries this year. I was going to try for an art theme for round two. We’ll see.

[Dixie]

I went with books about three specific years, each in a different century:
The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium, An Englishman's World
1215: The Year of Magna Carta
A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare: 1599